Device for cleaning gas service pipes



' 1,604,385 E. L. BULLOCK ET AL DEVICE FOR CLEANING GAS SERVICE PIPES Filed Nov. 16, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 r I 7 6mm;

Oct. 26 1926. 1,604,385

E. L. BULLOCK zrr AL.

DEVICE FOR CLEANING GAS SERVICE PIPES Filed Nov. 16, 1 z Sheets-Sheat 2 Oct. 26 1926.

E. L. BULLOCK ET AL DEVICE FOR CLEANING GAS SER"ICE PIPES Filed Nov. 16, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 26, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,604,385 PATENT, OFFICE.

ERNEST In. BULLOCK AND ELMER S. UMSTEAD, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE I SLAN'J'.

DEVICE FOR CLEANING GAS SERVICE PIPES.

Application filed November 16, 1925.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a device for cleaning gas service pipes, and the primary object thereof is to provide improved means for cleaning the service pipes by vacuum.

Gas service pipes become readily clogged and the supply impeded, or interrupted, by

accumulation of small particles of rust and corrosion which travel with or are carried along by the flow of gas, heretofore it has been the custom to blow the accumulated matter back into the main, by agitating or scattering same to allow free passage of the g The resent invention aims to remove the accumu ated matter by withdrawing same from the main. thereby to entirely free the latter of obstructions which impede free flow of the gas.

- In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the invention, partly in side elevation.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. and

Figure 3 is a reduced bottom plan view.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the quick-opening valve;

ligure 5 is a top plan View of Figure 4, an

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of ure 4.

In proceeding in accordance with the present invention a tank or casing 1, is employed having a closed top 2 and a closed bottom 8. A central and preferably tubular column 4 is secured at its ends to the top and bottom of the casing and acts to brace the structure against collapsing under the influence of the vacuum. 'A heavy ring 5 is arranged below the bottom 3 and is connected thereto in spaced relation by means of a seriesot L-shaped feet 6 from which it will be noted, as is shown in Figure 3, foot receiving pockets are formed as indicated at 7 so as to enable the operator to placehis feet in the pockets and engage same with the ring 5 thereby holding the casing in firm position during operation of the pump. The pump has a cylinder 8 provided with a threaded ring 9 at its upper end, the cylinder projecting through ahead 10 which latter is cpuntersunk to receive the ring 9, thereby to hold the cylinder against downward movement. The head 10 seats on a gasket 11 which latter in turn rests on a ring 12 that is disposed on the casing top Serial No. 69,549.

2, the head being bolted as shown at 13 to the top of the casing.

A crossbar 14 extends across the top of the head 10 and is perforated to receive the piston rod 15 of the vacuum pump.

A handle 16 is attached to the upper end of the rod 15 of the vacuum pump, while the lower end of the rod has a piston 16 thereon. The piston is formed with a port 17 closed by a self-seating or gravity valve 18. T o the lower end of the cylinder 8 is fixed a sleeve 19 the latter carrying a guide 20. A valve casing 21 is threaded on to the sleeve 19 and has a port 22 opening into the interior of the tank 1. which port is controlled by a gravity valve 23. having a stem 24 slidably received in the guide 20. The top 2 of the tank is further provided with a collar 25 extending upwardly therefrom and engaged on its interior by a ring 26 on the exterior of a valve cylinder 27. The ring 26 is threaded into engagement with collar 25 and holds the cylinder 27 in spaced relation to the collar and to the top 2. The cylinder 27 is provided with a series of peripheral ports 28 and has a connection 29 extending outwardly from a side thereof and vformed for engagement with a rubber hose or conduit 30. A cross-bar 31 is secured on the upper end of the cylinder 27 and slidably receives therein a valve stem 32, the latter having an upper piston valve 33 and a lower piston valve 34; the valve stem 32 is locked in raised position by the pin 32 or other mechanical means. The ower end of the cylinder 27 is open and has a pair of stop rods 35 extending there- .across, which rods are formed to engage the lower piston 34 and restrict the downward movement thereof. A gauge 36 is mounted on the top 2 to record the degree of vacuum in the tank 1.

In operation, upon the up stroke of the pump piston, the piston valve 18 closes and the cylinder valve 23 opens, thereby drawing air from the tank interior into the pump cylinder. Upon the down stroke of the pisten, the pump cylinder valve 23 closes and the piston valve 18 opens thereby expelling the air through the top of the pump cylinder. During this air exhausting operation, the lower valve of the quick-acting valve mechanism is in the upward position of Figure 1 preventing communication bediametrically I tan tween the conduit 29 and the tank. This valve is hold in such position by any mechanical means such as a pin 32", and upon release, the vacuum eil'fects instantaneous downward movement. thereof so as to establish comnmnication between the conduit and the tank interior and at the same time by reason of the valve 33 closing any possible escape of gas. as is clearly shown in Figure t, whereby the vacuum draws foreign matter contained in the service pipe through the conduit and into the tank and from which latter it may be removed as desired or found necessary.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a gas service pipe cleaner, a tank, a column in the tank connected to the top and bottom thereot'. a pump cylinder in the tank having an inlet communicating with the tank interior. a valve controlling said inlet, a piston in the cylinder having a port, a valve controlling said port, each valve opening upwardly whereby to exhaust air from the tank upon reciprocation of the piston, a valve cylinder having its lower end perforated and extending into the tank, means to connect a conduit to said valve cylinder at a point extcriorly of the tank, a slidable rod in the valve cylinder having a pair of spaced piston valves thereon arranged so as to close communication between the valve cylinder and the tank in upward position of the rod and to be automatically moved upon release by the vacuum in the tank to establish such communication, and rods extending across the lower end of the valve cylinder to engage the lower of the valves of the rod and to arrest downward movement thereof.

2. In a gas service cleaner device, a tank, means to exhaust air from the tank, a valve cylinder communicating with the tank, means to connect a conduit to the cylinder, and valve mechanism in the cylinder which in one position closes communication between the cylinder and conduit and which upon release is automatically moved by the vacuum to establish such communication,

In a gas service cleaner device, a tank, means to exhaust air from the tank, a valve cylinder communicating with the tank, means to connect a conduit to the cylinder, valve mechanismin the cylinder which in one position closes communication between the cylinder and conduit and which upon release is automatically moved by the vacuum to establish such counnunication and means to restrict opening movement of said valve mechanism.

d. In a gas service cleaner device, a tank,

' means to exhaust air from the tank, avalve cylinder communicating with the tank,

means to connect a conduit to the cylinder,

valve mechanism in the cylinder which in one position closes communication between In a gas service cleaner device, a tank, I

means to exhaust air from the tank, a valve cylinder communicating with the tank, means to connect a conduit tp the cylinder, valve mechanism in the cylinder which in one position closes communication between the cylinder and conduit and which upon release is automatically moved by the vacuum to establish such communication and a column in the tank connected to the top and to the bottom thereof and arranged between the air exhausting means and the valve cylinder.

6. In a gas service cleaner device, a tank, means to exhaust air from the tank, a valve cylinder communicating with the tank, means to connect a conduit to the cylinder, valve mechanism in the cylinder which in one position closes communication between the cylinder and conduit and which upon release is automatically moved by the vacuum to establish such communication and means carried by-the cylinder to re- 'strict opening movements of said valve mechanism, comprising a pair of rods extending transversely across the lower end of the valve cylinder to engage the valve mechanism, and a column in the tank connected to the top and to the bottom thereof and arranged between the air exhausting means and the valve cylinder.

7 In a gas service cleaner device, a tank, means to exhaust air from the tank, an inlet for the tank, means to connect a conduit to the inlet, and a quick acting valve mechanism controlling the inlet, said valve mechanism normally closing communication between the tank and inlet and upon release being automatically moved to open position b the vacuum in the tank.

8. In a gas service cleaner device, a tank, means to exhaust air from the tank, a valve cylinder communicating with the tank,

means to connect a conduit to the cylinder, shdable valve mechanism 111 the cylinderwhich in one position closes communication between the cylinder and conduit and which upon release is automatically moved by the vacuum to establish said communication and means to restrict opening movement of said valve mechanism.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

ERNEST L. BULLOCK. ELMER S. UMSTEAD. 

